Wednesday, September 12, 2012

NAMO VS NAMO

B.RAMAN

Shri Narendra Modi, the Chief Minister of Gujarat,
never allows grass to grow under his feet. While the Congress Party is still
confused as to what should be its strategy and tactics for the forthcoming
elections to the State Assembly later this year, Shri Modi, like the proverbial
hare, has already started racing ahead. He has inaugurated his and the BJP’s
State election campaign with a powerful indictment of the state of corruption
in the Government of India.

2. It is evident Shri Modi will have a two-pronged
election strategy which will focus on his record as the Chief Minister and
highlight what he projects as the injustices and step-motherly policies of the
Government of India towards his Government.

3.Will the Congress tortoise be able to catch up with
the hare and overtake it ultimately? The answer to this will depend not only on
its stamina and winner instinct, but also on its ability to project before the
voters of Gujarat a credible alternative to Shri Modi in terms of individuals
and policies. One sees no clear sign of any logical thinkingin the Congress.

4.The 2009 elections to the Lok Sabha clearly
showed that demonization and denigration of an individual does not bring in
poll dividends. Instead of placing before the voters an attractive policy alternative
package, Shri L.K.Advani focussed the entire campaign of the BJP on an attempt to demonise and denigrate
Dr.Manmohan Singh as the Prime Minister. It did not pay.

5. Similarly, the BJP’s current campaign of demonization
and denigration of the Prime Minister is not showing signs of bringing in any significant
poll return. The people are increasingly disillusioned with the Prime Minister
and the Congress because of their perceived sins of commission and omission.

6. This disillusionment with the Congress and the
PM has not been translated into a fascination for the BJP and its leaders. There
has been a definitive corrosion of the support enjoyed by the Congress, but
this corrosion has not been to the significant benefit of the BJP and its
leaders. There are no signs of a gathering pro-BJP wave in the country.
Disillusionment with the Congress and scepticism towards the BJP are the
defining characteristics of the current public mood in the country.

7.Against this background, the Congress has to
realise that any election campaign in Gujarat based on a continuing demonization
of NaMo for the communal violence of 2002 will bring in ever-diminishing
returns. The time has come to jettison the policy of demonization of NaMo.

8. The Congress election campaign has to be based
on a clear understanding of the ground situation in Gujarat and the electoral
strategy of NaMo and his supporters in his party and from the diaspora.

9. NaMo enjoys three formidable assets---- his
record as an effective administrator, his achievements in developing the
economy of the State and his reputation as an honest leader who has not allowed
corruption to flourish under his watch. The public perception of his record as
the Chief Minister is going to be his best poll ally.

10. But NaMo is not a paragon of all positive
qualities. There are two negatives in his personality and leadership which have
not been brought out by the Congress. The first is his drive to build a
personality cult around him by skilfully exploiting the modern means of
communication and the virtual world and the backing of a group of IT-savvy
individuals from the diaspora about
whose background and credentials the voters of this country know very little.

11. The entourage of Mrs.Sonia Gandhi and
Dr.Manmohan Singh is a relatively open book. One cannot say the same thing
about the entourage of NaMo, particularly the diaspora members of his
entourage. This entourage, with the diaspora members driving from the back
seat, has been seeking to bulldoze NaMo’s way forward towards winning another
term as the Chief Minister and ultimately occupying the Chair of the Prime
Minister.

12. This lack of transparency regarding his
entourage and particularly of the NRIs who have flocked to his flag should be a
matter of concern to the right-thinking persons in our country. In the attempt
to build a personality cult around him and make him seem 15 feet tall, his
entourage has been quietly trying to identify and undermine the potential
challengers to his way forward.

13. NaMo has been in power for a decade now. Has
the time not come to discourage the trend towards a personality cult by trying
an alternate leader? An accepted principle in many democracies is that a
personality cult would prove detrimental to the health of democracy. That is
why many democracies have put a limit to the number of yearsa head of Government or State can hold office.
There are two-term limits in the US and France where the head of
State/Government is directly elected. Even in authoritarian societies such as
Russia and China there are two-term limits. No leader, however brilliant,
should be allowed to occupy the chair of the head of the Government for a long
period.

14. In countries such as the UK, where the head of
Government is not directly elected, there is no constitutionally laid down
limit, but their political culture sees to it that there is no bulldozed
attempt to build a personality cult. The most worrisome aspect of NaMo’s personality
is not his attitude to the religious minorities which has become more benign
and positive now than it seemed to be in 2002, but his attempt, with the
backing of his entourage, to build a personality cult around him.

15.Secondly,NaMo’s economic achievements seem so
dazzling that nobody has gone into them in depth. Who are the ultimate
beneficiaries of his economic policies---- certain corporate houses or the
common people as a whole? Is his gathering support thanks to people-friendly
policies or corporate-friendly ones? These are questions that have not been
posed and discussed in depth.

16. Nobody can question NaMo’s achievements. They
are there for all to see. But, nobody can fail to be disturbed by the
personality cult being built around him. And one should not hesitate to raise
questions about the ultimate beneficiaries of his economic policies.

17. Has the time come to seek an alternative to
NaMo and his policies? That question has to be addressed in the weeks ahead
before the Gujarat elections. ( 13-9-12)

Sir, I agree with your point of "Personality cult", but I have one question, if personality cult is so dangerous to the health of democracy, then why do you want Priyanka Gandhi to lead Congress in 2014.

Dear Raman, Most good economic policies in today's world helps the corporates directly and helps millions of common people indirectly. Thats how it works. Unless u consider policies like NREGA that just involve throwing away money as good economic policy

While NaMo's achievements as an honest leader and pro-development leader are indisputable, the only reason why he should be removed is "personality cult" and that he has been doing good work since a long time now.

This "personality cult" is more detrimental to democracy than say "dynasty cult" because these are different things altogether.

The entourage of the Sonia and Manmohan may be an "open book" but their economic policies, implementation and honesty have been stellar. So leaders should be judged based on percieved character of their "entourages" and not the electoral success or the economic growth they bring about.

The GDP growth of Gujarat has been the highest in medium sized states but that should not matter because NaMo is in power for over a decade.

NaMo should be removed because he is "using" IT savvy guys and the diaspora abroad who are basically not very bright minds and very easily influenced.

So basically, rephrasing your words - time has come to get leader (who may not have the track record or the intentions) from the vast ocean of mediocrity and dishonesty that Indian politics is.

Respected Sir,All the logical contortions to deny Narendra Modi any future role in Indian governance can be done by a constitutional amendment that nobody named Narendra Modi can run for any post, including Ward Councillor. Also lets stop this cult of personality by electing Priyanka Gandhi as the PM.

You are happy about a Italian born lady indirectly controlling PM of abillion people by using paid media.

But you are saying an Indian CM does not have the right to use Indians but living abroad to promote his ideas,vision for future of his state.

Its like " somebody stole our tent." joke.

Modi had to use these IT saavy people and social media because for ten longyears the entire indian media/intellectuals/journalists/opionionists are spewing venomwithout an iota of of evidence against him and they keep quiet when Assam burnt and violence happenedin Mumbai.

You deleberatly ignored/missed this media bias completely.

Our dear PM is fighting with an Washington Post reporter for good-conduct certificateinstead of working for people of India. And you have words of praise for him.

Sonia Gandhi is very active in fighting Advani and BJP in parliament,very active during Presidential elections, giving dinner/lunch parties to political leaders,

Sir, More than personality cult, there is a bigger danger of family cult. Dont you think so. We have had more success with PVN who is outside of the family. Shouldn't Congress be advised to look outside Gandhi family.

"NRIs who have flocked to his flag should be a matter of concern to the "right-thinking persons"in our country" ... I like that nice attempt MR Raman...jock of the year!!!... considering his 11years shining leadership and you only got this silly matter to point out to him???????.... in that case Cong. is so luckyyyyyyy!!!!!

hey what about if Burkha dutt is become next prime minister ??????? (sorry I mean Barkha*) bye the way she also have "personality cult"......

A right thinking persone should most worry about ... the "corleone family" that ruling the nation,

Within 6 months I have gone from the highest respect for your views to that of total disdain for them. The comments before me make my points eloquently enough.

A highly intelligent analyst like you now espousing the views you do makes me think that you are either becoming soft in the head or, perhaps, you are deliberately pedalling these lunatic views to evoke the sort of response you're getting for reasons only you know!

Either way, your argument for constitutional limit of terms served is valid for the wrong reasons: citing Modi as justification is plainly idiotic as his record actually favours the argument for unlimited terms.

A more interesting point you may care to consider is that corruption alone is not the cause of India's weak governance: it is the present parliamentary constitution borrowed from the British without thought. Note that the Americans developed their own constitution when they achieved independence and it is their system, that is, a presidential system, that we should adopt. Otherwise I fear we shall still have weak multiparty coalitions even when we've got rid of corruption (hope!)

Your article is selective and incomplete in its analysis on the following counts:

1. You have not outlined the differences between the "personality cult" of Modi and that of the media-sponsored, scam-funded, personality/dynasty cults surrounding members of the Gandhi family.

2. There is a difference between demonisation and holding our leaders accountable. Intimidating witnesses, perjury, media trials, denials of visas, and labels like 'maut ka saudagar' equate to demonisation. Calling MMS an underachiever and a tragic figure, questioning the involvement of leaders in the largest scams of independent India - this is the work of responsible citizens. That the Congress leaders have not responded to these genuine queries or have dismissed these concerns has severely damaged their credibility.

3. You have de-emphasised able governance, honesty and a track record of achievement at a societal level as a pre-requisite for leadership and promotion. It is only because Modi delivers that people all over India support him. There is a six-decade old hunger for progress. The Congress has been given mandate after mandate like no other political institution in human history. But they have chosen to use that mandate to create an unsurpassed business model of corruption and communalism and constantly downward revisions of the "Congress rate of growth."

I realise it must be devastating to have dedicated one's entire life to the service of political masters only to find that their policies have undermined the progress of Indian health, education, economy, and security. However, we will respect you all the more for writing (as you often have done) in the cause of India's interests.

Today, the majority of Indians believe the cause of India's interests is better served by Modi than by any member of the Gandhi dynasty.

Dear SirI have always enjoyed reading your well researched, logically infallible arguments in this column. But I feel this article by you certainly has flavours of your personal prejudices and biases than pure rational thoughts which is often your hallmark. If I try and take the essence of the article you are only saying Namo has proved well with his achievements and nobody can deny and fight with him on this platform but you are worried about the personality cult he is weaving around him. Herein lies the dichotomy.. Namo is a leader not a manager. He is charismatic and will have a personality and aura like most leaders have. If you chose to call this fan following a personality cult then so be it. What is wrong. If it is indeed a false image created with the help of the silent and unknown IT Savvy people, Namo should have been exposed by now. The whole country' english media has been tirelessly working against him for 10 years. Or, Are you suggesting that 10 years of all of India' media is no good in exposing truth when camouflaged by a few IT savvy confidantes of Namo.

Let us not forget all great leaders had a personality cult and not all were harmful. Not far away from home - M K Gandhi, Subash Bose are good examples. They were leaders and personalities for fan following for decades.. Anything wrong with that.At a global stage, Kennedy, Churchill, Lee Kwan Yew, Fidel Castro all stood by their people and country and had millions following them on their path. Anything wrong.Even by the wild stretch of imagination of English Media in India, we were to consider Namo as a personality wh o has a cult like following, a dictatorial type working etc and demonize him, I am sure Mr Raman with all your experience, love for the country and feeling of despair and helplessness you sometimes show in your articles, you will agree that A BENIGN DICTATOR IS FAR BETTER THAN A CHAOTIC DEMOCRACY we have in the rest of the country.Dictatorship is not good often but when you are lucky, you get people like Namo just like elsewhere in the world when they had Lee Kwan Yew.Personality is necessary for a leader and a good leader will have a cult like following. A matter of fact. Law of the land should be stronger to reign in any illegitimate act by such leaders and such provisions do exist. If he appears cunning, give it to him for that. He is a political leader after all and not a Saint who has a personality cult with fan following. Politics is his Dharma

Just my humble views as I see this particular article of yours more as an aberration from your usual chain of thoughts which is rational and unbiased with clear focus.

I think Mr Raman mixedarticle with briefing to Gandhis by mistake or something. This isn't analysis. This is 'why modi is demon and how to take him down' manual for Rahul Gandhi or whatever. Coming the content

1. No one can fail to be disturbed. This is definitely part of congress brief, it seems

2. Question about hiring IT savvy professionals. Well, your idiot Gandhi, who couldn't even clear a degree, has a team too, And quite bigger one at that.

3. Truth of achievement. Well, we all know the truth of Dynasty's achievement now. Gujarat has 24x7 electricity. While fortress of congress for decades, UP, well, let's not talk about that.

4. About being in power, well, we first need laws to throw these dynasties out. Why is it a problem if modi has been in power for years? Kerala has seen a 25 year CMship. Why didn't you go ask for law there?

By the way? The cheque from 10janpath come yet? Encash soon, else will bounce

5. Very smartly, this article, exactly like congress machinery has not remotely mentioned riots.

6. Question about ultimate beneficiary of progress, well how do you decide one? Employment is benefit enough? Security enough that a girl can roam around alone at midnight without any fear? Or uninterrupted electricity supply and 1500km long canal network for farmers? OR NAVEEN JINDAL, Kalmadi, A. RAJA are better beneficiaries?

7. Modi is on Time Asia cover, with caption 'modi means business' and PM is on WP with caption 'tragic figure' well, that speaks for itself.

Please go tell your bosses at 10Janpath that this article circus didn't work, and please don't sent idiot Gandhi there...else he won't be capable to stand in panchayat elections next Time